Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Puerto Vallarta's majestic Sierra Madre, blue Bay of Banderas and iconic Malecón will provide the perfect background of mountain-meets-sea for the first edition of the urban bicycle race, Down Puerto Vallarta 2017, taking place from April 29th and 30th.

Announced last week by the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board Director, Agustín Álvarez Valdivia, the race has three categories: Downhill, Slope-style & Freestyle and will bring participants from the Sierra Madre's Cerro de La Cruz to the Malecón in a panoramic 900 meter long speedway.

"Although Puerto Vallarta is well known for its beaches, gastronomy and hotels, we are also a contemporary destination that attracts top productions that attract all of our niche markets with outdoor sports being a natural segment for us," said Alvarez Valdivia.

"Downhill Puerto Vallarta will combine the spectacular scenery of the destination with one of the most innovative activities in the urban sports market resulting in a unique event in the international scene," he added.

Puerto Vallarta is expecting over 20 thousand visitors to arrive the weekend of May 1 when the race will take place, this will include more than 40 of the top internationally renowned off-road biking specialists, trainers, family members and officials.

In addition to an increase in hotel occupancy, the destination is also expected to increase its coverage and presence in sports-focused media such as Fox Sports and ESPN, both of which have already confirmed coverage of the race.

"The media coverage this event will provide Puerto Vallarta will place our most representative imagery in front of a totally new segment for the destination," said Alvarez Valdivia. "It is important that we remain relevant to the new generations and that they see that we have many things to offer them," he concluded.